Method of protecting and stacking bars



March 1, 1966 c. H. CALLAHAN METHOD OF PROTECTING AND STACKING BARS Filed Dec. 23, 1963 FIG 3 INVENTOR. Chgflg ji Calla/2am QW %L@ d% M United States Patent 0 3,237,796 METHOD OF PROTECTING AND STACKING BARS Charles H. Callahan, Crown Point, Ind., assignor to La Saile Steel Company, Hammond, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,768 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-152) This invention relates to a method of handing bars which are subject to surface damage when brought into contact with other objects. In particular, the invention is concerned with the provision of protective means around the outer surfaces of metal bars whereby contact of these surfaces with other bars or with other objects can be avoided.

It is well known that metal bars are in many cases ground and/or polished to provide a smooth, defectfree surface finish. It is obvious that in the handling of these bars, either during production, during shipping, or after they are received by a user, the smooth surface finish can be damaged. T-hus, contact between bars being shipped or otherwise handled, or contact of the bars with other objects can easily result in scratching of the bar surface, or in the formation of nicks or indentations therein.

It is obvious that the surfaces of such bars could be protected if they were individually handled and individually wrapped contact with foreign objects could be avoided. It is also obvious, however, that such a procedure would be extremely expensive from the standpoint of the cost in time and material for accomplishing this result.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of protecting the surfaces of metal bars, and the like, which surfaces would otherwise be subject to damage during handling and shipping.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a metal bar having the protecting means of this invention applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a metal bar of different dimensions having the protecting means applied thereto;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the protecting means of this invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View illustrating the manner in which the protecting means maintains the metal bars in spaced-apart relationships.

The instant invention generally relates to protecting means formed of a material which normally assumes a tubular configuration. The internal dimensions of the protecting means are such that they do not exceed the external dimensions of the bars upon which they are disposed. Accordingly, when these protecting means are applied over the surfaces of metal bars, they are adapted to expand or to at least snugly engage the surfaces of the metal bars.

The protecting means of this invention comprise a length of material wound in a spiral manner. When the protecting means is normally situated, the resepective turns of the configuration engage each other so that the protecting means assumes the configuration of a closed tube. When the protecting means is asssociated with a bar having external dimensions exceeding the internal dimensions of the protecting means, then the turns become spaced apart. The amount of spacing between the turns will vary, depending upon the size of the particular bar with which the protecting means is 3,237,796 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 associated. However, in any case, the protecting means will hold he bar in spaced-apart relationship with respect to any objects situated adjacent to the bar. Thus, a plurality of bars can be stacked in a group and bars can be situated adjacent to any surface without actually contacting such surface. It will be understood that the protecting means can be employed for receiving bars having external dimensions approximately equal to the internal dimensions of the protecting means. However, bars having significantly smaller external dimensions are preferably not handled in this manner since relative movement of the bars with respect to the protecting means can itself tend to form defects in the bar surfaces.

The accompanying drawing illustrates in FIGURE 1 a bar 10 of the type contemplated for use in accordance with this invention. The exterior surfaces 12 of this bar, if ground and polished, or if otherwise treated, are subject to damage if brought into contact with other surfaces. The spiral member 14 comprises the protecting member associated with the bar to prevent such damage to the surfaces 12.

In accordance with this invention, the member 14 may comprise a strip of cardboard of substantially uniform width which is formed in the shape of a tube. This configuration is illustrated in FIGURE 3. As suggested by comparing FIGURES 1 and 2 with FIGURE 3, the respective turns of the member 14 are spaced apart when associated with a bar 10. This occurs when the external dimensions of a bar 10 exceed the internal dimensions of an associated protecting member 14. In the examples illustrated, the bar 10 of FIGURE 1 is larger than the bar 10 of FIGURE 2, and for that reason the turns of the member 14 are spaced apart to a wider degree.

A comparison of the FIGURES l, 2 and 3 illustrates one of the major advantages of the protecting means of this invention. Thus, bars of a wide variety of sizes can be protected through the use of the same size protecting means. Accordingly, a single inventory of the members 14 can be employed for protecting all of the production within a relatively wide range of diameters. For example, cardboard tubes having a one-inch internal diameter have been effectively employed for portecting all bars having external diameters between one inch and three and one-half inches. It will be appreciated, however, that the principles of this invention are adapted for use where the relative sizes of bars and protecting members vary over a wide range.

There are various ways of achieving protecting members which employ the characteristics of this invention. In this connection, the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of cardboard for forming the protective members. However, cardboard is particularly suitable for this purpose since it provides a cheap source of material and since conventional manufacturing practices provide an efiicient procedure for providing protecting members suitable for use in the manner claimed.

In many cases cardboard tubes are formed through the use of a length of material disposed in a spiral fashion with the adjacent edges of the respective turns in contact whereby a continuous tube will be formed. In such instances the tube can be slit along the spiral dividing lines whereby open turns will be provided. Thus, if the tube 10 shown in FIGURE 3 is slit along the lines 16, a suitable spiral tube can easily be made available.

In some instances suitable materials can be formed into a tubular configuration by winding the materials on a mandrel in a spiral fashion. It is also contemplated that the spiral tube be formed of two or more laminated layers. One layer can be formed of a relatively thin material and associated with the thicker, outer layer or layers. With such an arrangement a spiral slit can be cut through the thicker layers while the inner layer holds the configuration in a more or less tubular fashion. When the protecting means is to be used, the tube can be twisted to break the thin layer and to then provide a protecting means of the type described. This arrangement has the advantage of reducing problems associated with handling of the spiral tubes which would tend to bend and fiop around too easily if slit completely through. When only partially slit, the tubes will be easier to handle and the inner layer can be broken just prior to use.

The instant invention provides distinct advantages over prior arrangements employing collars which have been fitted around the ends of bars to hold them in spacedapart relationship. With the use of such collars a separate inventory is necessary to accomodate each size of bar. Furthermore, any discrepancies between the dimensions of the collars and the bars provided loose fits which cause the collars to fall off or which has in itself contributed to damaged surfaces. With the instant invention a single inventory of protecting members can be employed. Furthermore, there is an inherent tendency for the spiral tubes to cling to the surface of the bars with which they are associatad. Thus, the spiral tubes have spring-like characteristics since they tend to assume their normal configuration wherein the adjacent turns are in contact and wherein the internal dimensions are smaller.

With larger varieties in the bar sizes to be handled, the protecting member can be employed in two or three different sizes. In any case, these protecting members insulate the respective surfaces of bars which are stored in cartons, boxes or other containers, or which are held on racks, trays or other supporting devices. The protection of the surfaces is carried out during processing, transportation and storage. The instant invention provides additional advantages since the protecting means can easily be employed for combining product identification data or advertising information with each production item. This advantage overcomes difliculties previously encountered where attempts have been made to directly mark the surfaces.

It will be appreciated that in the appended claims the reference to bars is used in a generic sense to include tubular objects as well as solid bars. Furthermore, materials other than steel can obviously be protected from surface damage with the use of the means of this invention. Metallic and non-metallic materials are contemplated in this regard. It should also be noted that a completely solid outer surface or circular cross section is not a limiting aspect of the invention since the protecting means obviously exhibit the ability to cling to various surfaces.

It will be understood that various changes can be made in the means and methods above described which provide the characteristics of this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, particularly as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a method for the stacking of steel bars which are subject to surface damage when encountering solid objects and which have a generally circular cross section, said bars being aligned in parallel relationship in the stack and resting one on top of the other, the improvement comprising the steps of providing a plurality of lengths of flexible covering material, forming each of said lengths of material into spiral configurations whereby the lengths define a plurality of elongated tubular configurations, disposing one of said spiral lengths around and frictionally gripping each of said bars to cover at least substantial portions of the surfaces thereof, the inner diameter of any one length being not greater than the outer diameter of the bar with which it is asosciated whereby the lengths will tend to cling snugly around each bar, and stacking said bars with the spiral lengths thereon upon each other whereby said lengths will maintain the outer surfaces of said bars in spaced-apart relationship.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said configuration is formed by winding a length of said material on a mandrel to form a cylindrical tube formed of an open spiral.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,465 8/1892 Bingham et al 20646 538,629 4/ 1895 Sinclair 20646 1,534,082 4/ 1925 Sanford 20646 1,793,059 2/1931 Chambers 1053 67 1,977,775 10/1934 Patterson 138-ll0 2,062,948 12/1936 Swank et al 214-10.5 X 2,197,845 4/ 1940 Ward 206-46 2,248,119 7/1941 Reed et al 214-10.5 X 2,531,792 11/ 1950 Smith 206-46 2,605,786 8/1952 Scott 21410.5 X 2,625,263 1/1953 Kice 20647 2,800,267 7 1957 ONeil 229-51 3,029,932 4/1962 Layne 206-46 3,117,371 1/ 1964 Farley 29-450 FOREIGN PATENTS 447,471 5/ 1936 Great Britain.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A METHOD FOR THE STACKING OF STEEL BARS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO SURFACE DAMAGE WHEN ENCOUNTERING SOLID OBJECTS AND WHICH HAVE A GENERALLY CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID BARS BEING ALIGNED IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP IN THE STACK AND RESTING ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF LENGTHS OF FLEXIBLE COVERING MATERIAL, FORMING EACH OF SAID LENGTHS OF MATERIAL INTO SPIRAL CONFIRUATIONS WHEREBY THE LENGTHS DEFINE A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED TUBULAR CONFIGURATIONS, DISPOSING ONE OF SAID SPIRAL LENGTHS AROUND AND FRICTIONALLY GRIPPING EACH OF SAID BARS TO COVER AT LEAST SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF THE SURFACES THEREOF, THE INNER DIAMETER OF ANY ONE LENGTH BEING NOT GREATER THAN THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE BAR WITH WHICH IT IS ASSOCIATED WHEREBY THE LENGTHS WILL TEND TO CLING SNUGLY AROUND EACH BAR, AND STACKING SAID BARS WITH THE SPIRAL LENGTHS THEREON UPON EACH OTHER WHEREBY SAID LENGTHS WILL MAINTAIN THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID BARS IN SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIP. 